1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,320 S1: As in any powerful story, there are both heroes and 2 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,600 S1: villains in the account of Jesus crucifixion and burial. But 3 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,960 S1: how can we piece together biblical accounts with other history 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,000 S1: to gain a complete and accurate portrait? Coming up, we'll 5 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,799 S1: put together the pieces of this puzzle as we meet 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,360 S1: the cast of characters at the cross. Welcome to the 7 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,280 S1: land and the book. The broadcast created by Doctor Charlie Dyer. 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,400 S1: Charlie is a noted Old Testament scholar, prolific author, frequent 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,320 S1: Israel traveler, and a speaker in demand. I'm John Gieger, 10 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,279 S1: and did you know that most Jewish people have never 11 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,040 S1: heard the gospel? Each week we talk about Israel and 12 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,760 S1: the Jewish people, and it's important to remember that they, 13 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,680 S1: like everybody else, need to hear the good news. 14 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,479 S2: And that's why life in Messiah, a ministry, by the way, 15 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,720 S2: that's existed for over 135 years, is devoted to sharing 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,190 S2: the gospel with Jewish people around the world. Now they're 17 00:01:00,230 --> 00:01:04,030 S2: offering a gift to moody listeners. This free e-book, Reaching 18 00:01:04,030 --> 00:01:07,350 S2: Jewish People for Messiah, highlights the need for the gospel 19 00:01:07,350 --> 00:01:10,310 S2: among the Jewish people and will equip you with practical 20 00:01:10,310 --> 00:01:12,830 S2: ways to share the Good News with them now. To 21 00:01:12,870 --> 00:01:16,830 S2: receive this free e-book, visit Life in Messiah org and 22 00:01:16,830 --> 00:01:19,750 S2: click on the Moody Radio logo there. Sign up today 23 00:01:19,750 --> 00:01:22,910 S2: to get your copy. And that's at Life in Messiah. 24 00:01:24,390 --> 00:01:26,830 S1: And now let's swing our focus toward current events in 25 00:01:26,830 --> 00:01:30,190 S1: the Middle East. This past week, Prime Minister Netanyahu flew 26 00:01:30,190 --> 00:01:33,310 S1: to Washington to meet with President Trump. What did the 27 00:01:33,310 --> 00:01:36,390 S1: two discuss during this whirlwind mini summit and what came 28 00:01:36,390 --> 00:01:37,069 S1: out of it? 29 00:01:37,110 --> 00:01:39,070 S2: Yeah, well, the main purpose for the visit was to 30 00:01:39,110 --> 00:01:42,950 S2: discuss modifying the tariffs that the U.S. has imposed on Israel. 31 00:01:43,150 --> 00:01:46,390 S2: Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to negotiate in person 32 00:01:46,390 --> 00:01:50,390 S2: with President Trump over the new tariffs. Israel already reduced 33 00:01:50,390 --> 00:01:53,710 S2: its tariffs on all imported US goods to zero, but 34 00:01:53,710 --> 00:01:57,230 S2: the US still imposed a 17% tariff on goods from 35 00:01:57,230 --> 00:02:00,900 S2: Israel because of a trade imbalance. Netanyahu said Israel will 36 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:05,620 S2: work to eliminate the imbalance by removing any remaining trade barriers. However, 37 00:02:05,620 --> 00:02:08,380 S2: the meeting ended with no commitment from the US to 38 00:02:08,419 --> 00:02:11,540 S2: reduce or eliminate that new tariff on goods from Israel, 39 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:15,260 S2: which was a disappointment to Netanyahu and to Israel. Now, 40 00:02:15,260 --> 00:02:19,340 S2: in addition to discussing tariffs, Iran's nuclear program was also 41 00:02:19,340 --> 00:02:22,419 S2: on the agenda. Trump created a stir when he said 42 00:02:22,419 --> 00:02:25,299 S2: the United States had begun talks with Iran and would 43 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:29,260 S2: resume direct talks this Saturday. He said the current situation 44 00:02:29,260 --> 00:02:34,060 S2: with Iran's nuclear ambitions is, quote, dangerous territory, but indicated 45 00:02:34,060 --> 00:02:38,500 S2: a diplomatic deal is preferable to the alternative. Afterward, Iran 46 00:02:38,500 --> 00:02:42,139 S2: confirmed the meeting Saturday but stressed the talks would be indirect, 47 00:02:42,139 --> 00:02:45,500 S2: not direct, saying, quote, we do not accept any other 48 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:49,340 S2: method of negotiation. Prior to this meeting, the US sent 49 00:02:49,340 --> 00:02:53,739 S2: a second terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. A third 50 00:02:53,740 --> 00:02:58,210 S2: missile battery to Israel to provide additional protection against any 51 00:02:58,210 --> 00:03:02,090 S2: threatened attack by Iran or the Houthis. This reinforced President 52 00:03:02,130 --> 00:03:05,770 S2: Trump's message that while he prefers a negotiated settlement, he's 53 00:03:05,770 --> 00:03:09,169 S2: not taking a military response off the table, at least 54 00:03:09,169 --> 00:03:12,730 S2: not yet. Trump and Netanyahu also discussed the war in 55 00:03:12,730 --> 00:03:16,489 S2: Gaza and efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages. 56 00:03:16,730 --> 00:03:20,330 S2: Israel's hope is that the increased military pressure and growing 57 00:03:20,370 --> 00:03:23,970 S2: protests in Gaza itself will force Hamas to become more 58 00:03:23,970 --> 00:03:28,130 S2: flexible in reaching a deal to release the hostages. Trump 59 00:03:28,169 --> 00:03:31,130 S2: again described the Gaza Strip as a tremendous piece of 60 00:03:31,130 --> 00:03:33,970 S2: real estate, and he added, it's a great place. I 61 00:03:33,970 --> 00:03:37,130 S2: don't understand why Israel gave it up. He also said 62 00:03:37,130 --> 00:03:40,450 S2: many countries are willing to take in Gaza residents, though 63 00:03:40,450 --> 00:03:43,690 S2: he didn't identify them by name. Now, a fourth topic 64 00:03:43,690 --> 00:03:46,850 S2: they discussed, which was something of a surprise, was the 65 00:03:46,850 --> 00:03:50,810 S2: issue of Turkey and its involvement in Syria. Netanyahu presented 66 00:03:50,810 --> 00:03:53,890 S2: why Israel doesn't want Syria to be used by Turkey 67 00:03:53,890 --> 00:03:57,400 S2: as a base for attacking Israel. Trump offered to serve 68 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,320 S2: as an intermediary between the two countries, saying he has 69 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,800 S2: a great relationship with Turkish President Erdogan and that any 70 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,800 S2: problems with Turkey can be resolved as long as Israel is, quote, reasonable, 71 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,040 S2: without defining what he exactly meant by that word. A 72 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,200 S2: great many topics were covered in the relatively short period 73 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,840 S2: these two had together, but as important as all the 74 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,560 S2: topics were, they really were overshadowed by the surprise announcement 75 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,240 S2: of talks beginning between the US and Iran. And that 76 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,080 S2: bombshell took virtually everyone by surprise. 77 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,120 S1: Charlie, why is that such a big deal? And and 78 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,360 S1: what is the likely outcome of any conversation between the 79 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,240 S1: US and Iran in your best judgment? 80 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,400 S2: Well, the fact that they can't even agree on whether 81 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,960 S2: it's going to be direct or indirect talks doesn't bode 82 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,200 S2: well for the talks. I think Iran wants to begin 83 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,320 S2: the process of engagement, only to keep delaying while they 84 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,960 S2: continue to advance their nuclear program. And I think at 85 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:49,720 S2: some point, the US is going to have to draw 86 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:51,680 S2: a line and say, you're either in or out, yes 87 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,180 S2: or no. What's the deal? I think President Trump believes 88 00:04:55,180 --> 00:04:58,219 S2: he really can finesse a deal. He really does believe 89 00:04:58,220 --> 00:05:01,500 S2: in the art of negotiation. But Iran is looking at 90 00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:03,180 S2: it from a totally different perspective. 91 00:05:03,220 --> 00:05:05,580 S1: This is the land and the book from Moody Radio 92 00:05:05,620 --> 00:05:08,540 S1: doctor Charlie Dyer, our host, working through a list of 93 00:05:08,540 --> 00:05:11,380 S1: stories based in the Middle East. You mentioned the discussion 94 00:05:11,380 --> 00:05:14,460 S1: between the U.S. and Israel over Turkey and its involvement 95 00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:17,460 S1: in Syria. Prior to this meeting, the relationship between Turkey 96 00:05:17,460 --> 00:05:20,060 S1: and Israel appeared to be reaching an all time low, 97 00:05:20,380 --> 00:05:25,300 S1: with Turkey's President Erdogan publicly wishing for Allah to destroy Israel. Boy, 98 00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:27,860 S1: those are fighting words, it seems to me. How serious 99 00:05:27,860 --> 00:05:30,020 S1: is the rift between the two countries? 100 00:05:30,140 --> 00:05:33,339 S2: Well, the rift between the two countries is serious. Erdogan 101 00:05:33,339 --> 00:05:36,220 S2: and his party have strong connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. 102 00:05:36,460 --> 00:05:39,380 S2: And Turkey's been moving away from its secular roots to 103 00:05:39,420 --> 00:05:43,779 S2: embrace stronger state ties to Islam. Erdogan harbors ambitions to 104 00:05:43,820 --> 00:05:46,940 S2: reconstruct a modern version of the Ottoman Empire, which is 105 00:05:46,940 --> 00:05:49,700 S2: what controlled most of the Middle East for 600 years. 106 00:05:50,020 --> 00:05:52,660 S2: At a speech at a mosque marking the end of Ramadan, 107 00:05:52,660 --> 00:05:56,530 S2: Don Erdogan said, quote, Allah will destroy Zionist Israel for 108 00:05:56,529 --> 00:05:59,370 S2: his holy name. We must see what is happening there. 109 00:05:59,370 --> 00:06:03,090 S2: Unite and be strong. As internal opposition to Erdogan grows 110 00:06:03,089 --> 00:06:06,409 S2: in Turkey. He's been increasing his criticism of Israel to 111 00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:09,810 S2: help galvanize his support base. He's also pushing to increase 112 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:12,690 S2: his ties with the new government in Syria, trying to 113 00:06:12,690 --> 00:06:16,450 S2: develop a defense pact with Damascus. This would bring Turkey 114 00:06:16,450 --> 00:06:19,490 S2: and Israel into direct conflict. And that's why it was 115 00:06:19,490 --> 00:06:22,170 S2: a topic of discussion at the white House. Israel has 116 00:06:22,170 --> 00:06:25,530 S2: destroyed three Syrian air bases that Turkey was hoping to 117 00:06:25,570 --> 00:06:28,730 S2: use to deploy its forces. Israel's message is that they 118 00:06:28,730 --> 00:06:31,850 S2: don't want Turkish forces on their border. A part of 119 00:06:31,850 --> 00:06:34,530 S2: the problem is that Turkey's a member of NATO, and 120 00:06:34,529 --> 00:06:37,330 S2: the NATO charter says an attack against one member is 121 00:06:37,330 --> 00:06:39,930 S2: viewed as an attack against all members. And the other 122 00:06:39,930 --> 00:06:43,290 S2: part of the problem is the apparently good relationship between 123 00:06:43,290 --> 00:06:46,650 S2: President Trump and Erdogan. Israel doesn't want to be put 124 00:06:46,650 --> 00:06:49,410 S2: in a position where it could be threatened by Turkey 125 00:06:49,410 --> 00:06:52,880 S2: and be unable to respond without facing opposition by NATO 126 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,440 S2: or the United States. Erdogan and Turkey support Hamas, and 127 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,440 S2: they oppose Israel's war against them. Israel wants to make 128 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,200 S2: sure a relatively harmless Syria doesn't get replaced by a 129 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:07,120 S2: more formidable and armed turkey. Apparently, the two sides are 130 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,320 S2: now holding talks to avoid a direct military clash. And frankly, 131 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:12,480 S2: that is a good thing. 132 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,320 S1: But that's a scary situation. Story number three is a 133 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,480 S1: discovery that just might make Indiana Jones envious. A three 134 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,520 S1: year old girl found a 3800 year old Canaanite amulet 135 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,160 S1: while on a family outing at Azekah. What are the 136 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:28,760 S1: details behind this discovery? 137 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,800 S2: Yeah, this is fascinating. Though some of the press reports 138 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,000 S2: were a little bit over the top in their coverage, 139 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,720 S2: one claimed the amulet was found where the Bible says 140 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,680 S2: David fought Goliath. Well, it was actually found, as you said, 141 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,520 S2: in Azekah at the western end of the Ayla valley. 142 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,160 S2: And first Samuel 17 says the Philistines frontlines were at Socoh, 143 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,480 S2: which is at the eastern end of the valley. And 144 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,830 S2: that's where David fought Goliath. So it's not exactly at 145 00:07:51,830 --> 00:07:54,790 S2: the spot where the battle took place, but it's still 146 00:07:54,790 --> 00:07:58,070 S2: part of where the Philistines were, according to first Samuel 17. 147 00:07:58,190 --> 00:07:59,950 S2: Now the three year old was hiking with her family 148 00:07:59,950 --> 00:08:03,030 S2: on a pathway at the base of Tel Azekah. Picture 149 00:08:03,030 --> 00:08:07,510 S2: a dirt path that has scores hundreds thousands of small 150 00:08:07,510 --> 00:08:10,190 S2: stones scattered along the way. And for some reason, the 151 00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:13,590 S2: girl stopped and picked up one particular stone, which pretty 152 00:08:13,590 --> 00:08:15,630 S2: much looked like all the others. But when she wiped 153 00:08:15,630 --> 00:08:18,110 S2: away the dirt and dust on it, the family noticed 154 00:08:18,110 --> 00:08:21,150 S2: it had a unique shape. They soon realized she'd uncovered 155 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:24,750 S2: a scarab shaped Canaanite amulet dating back to the time 156 00:08:24,750 --> 00:08:28,310 S2: of the patriarchs. The shape points to Egyptian influence in 157 00:08:28,310 --> 00:08:32,110 S2: the region, though the find itself is Canaanite. The family 158 00:08:32,110 --> 00:08:35,270 S2: reported the find to the Israel Antiquities Authority, who took 159 00:08:35,270 --> 00:08:38,790 S2: the artifact but presented the child with a certificate of appreciation, 160 00:08:39,030 --> 00:08:41,230 S2: and this seal is just a little larger than a 161 00:08:41,350 --> 00:08:44,069 S2: man's thumbnail, and it's in good condition. And it's now 162 00:08:44,070 --> 00:08:48,030 S2: on display in a special Passover exhibit in Jerusalem. And 163 00:08:48,030 --> 00:08:50,780 S2: three year old Zeev now has a certificate and a 164 00:08:50,780 --> 00:08:54,540 S2: collection of newspaper articles highlighting her amazing discovery. 165 00:08:54,580 --> 00:08:57,780 S1: That's cool. Well, an Israeli startup is working to build 166 00:08:57,780 --> 00:09:01,819 S1: a nuclear reactor no bigger than a desktop computer. Tell 167 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:04,860 S1: us about the ambitious goals of Metatron NRG. 168 00:09:05,300 --> 00:09:07,740 S2: Yeah, this is almost the stuff of science fiction. The 169 00:09:07,740 --> 00:09:10,900 S2: holy grail of energy is nuclear fusion. The problem is 170 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:13,780 S2: that harnessing the power of the sun through fusion has 171 00:09:13,780 --> 00:09:17,340 S2: been a decades long quest, costing billions of dollars. And really, 172 00:09:17,340 --> 00:09:20,420 S2: no one has yet produced a workable fusion reactor capable 173 00:09:20,420 --> 00:09:23,100 S2: of generating more power than it consumes. And that's where 174 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:28,020 S2: this small energy David could stand out. Metatron NRG, which 175 00:09:28,020 --> 00:09:31,660 S2: sounds like NRG, has overcome a significant technical hurdle to 176 00:09:31,700 --> 00:09:34,260 S2: harness the power of nuclear fusion by using a new 177 00:09:34,260 --> 00:09:37,420 S2: type of stable plasmoid. This has opened the door for 178 00:09:37,420 --> 00:09:40,460 S2: a novel kind of small fusion reactor that they compared 179 00:09:40,460 --> 00:09:43,860 S2: to a desktop computer. After three years of research, they've 180 00:09:43,900 --> 00:09:46,980 S2: achieved proof of concept for their approach. They're now focused 181 00:09:46,980 --> 00:09:49,969 S2: on enhancing what they've done to establish a fully functioning 182 00:09:49,970 --> 00:09:54,730 S2: nuclear fusion reactor capable of directly harnessing electrical power. Now, 183 00:09:54,770 --> 00:09:57,170 S2: don't rush down to Home Depot or Lowe's just yet. 184 00:09:57,370 --> 00:09:58,730 S2: It's going to be a little bit of time until 185 00:09:58,730 --> 00:10:00,890 S2: they get this up and running, but they're hoping to 186 00:10:00,890 --> 00:10:03,689 S2: have it before too long. And when it finally does happen, 187 00:10:03,690 --> 00:10:06,849 S2: we'll all thank the new generation of Israeli Thomas Edison's 188 00:10:06,850 --> 00:10:07,970 S2: at Metatron. 189 00:10:09,010 --> 00:10:11,449 S1: Thank you Charlie. Good to be updated on current events 190 00:10:11,450 --> 00:10:14,569 S1: from the Middle East. Here we are, Palm Sunday weekend 191 00:10:14,570 --> 00:10:17,450 S1: thinking about Jesus and His death on the cross. And 192 00:10:17,650 --> 00:10:19,330 S1: when you think about it, there were a whole lot 193 00:10:19,370 --> 00:10:21,930 S1: of people there that were gathered around that cross as 194 00:10:21,929 --> 00:10:25,089 S1: Jesus hung there dying for our sins. Of course, there 195 00:10:25,090 --> 00:10:29,570 S1: was the execution team, the Centurion soldiers. Mary was there, 196 00:10:29,610 --> 00:10:32,929 S1: the mother of Jesus. There were curiosity seekers and onlookers, 197 00:10:32,929 --> 00:10:36,530 S1: Pharisees and others. The disciples. Just who were these people? 198 00:10:36,530 --> 00:10:39,250 S1: What were their motivations and why should we really care? 199 00:10:39,250 --> 00:10:43,449 S1: 2000 years later, that's our conversation. Next, as we talk 200 00:10:43,490 --> 00:10:46,450 S1: about the characters at the Cross of Christ, then later 201 00:10:46,450 --> 00:10:48,679 S1: we'll take a look at your Bible questions and wrap 202 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,640 S1: it all up with Charlie Dyer's devotional on today's edition 203 00:10:51,640 --> 00:11:08,640 S1: of The Land and the book. Stay with us. As 204 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,679 S1: in any acclaimed narrative, there are both heroes and villains 205 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,040 S1: in the account of Jesus crucifixion and burial. Sorting them 206 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,240 S1: out is not difficult, but what is difficult is piecing 207 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,560 S1: together both biblical and historical information to gain a complete 208 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,840 S1: and accurate portrait of every character in Calvary's cast. Well, 209 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,320 S1: we're about to put together the pieces of this puzzle, 210 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,120 S1: and along the way, we hope to draw new insights 211 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,000 S1: into how each member of that cast contributes to the 212 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,600 S1: greatest story ever told. Welcome back to the land and 213 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,280 S1: the book, by the way. I'm John Gager, inviting you 214 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,980 S1: to pause with me for another fresh idea on reaching 215 00:11:45,980 --> 00:11:50,540 S1: out to our Jewish friends with Christ's love. Finding Messiah 216 00:11:50,580 --> 00:11:53,540 S1: in unexpected places. Wouldn't you love for your Jewish friend 217 00:11:53,540 --> 00:11:56,140 S1: to find him? Well, let's sit down with Michael Riedel 218 00:11:56,460 --> 00:11:57,980 S1: and let him kind of take us on a bit 219 00:11:57,980 --> 00:11:59,460 S1: of a tour. What would you say, Michael? 220 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:02,700 S3: Well, there's one passage in particular that I found interesting. 221 00:12:02,740 --> 00:12:05,579 S3: I was on a translation team for a Bible, and 222 00:12:05,580 --> 00:12:07,580 S3: I was given the book of Joel to do the 223 00:12:07,580 --> 00:12:10,620 S3: initial translation before the team got to work on it, 224 00:12:10,620 --> 00:12:12,620 S3: and we weren't allowed to look at the English Bible. 225 00:12:12,620 --> 00:12:16,500 S3: And so I was translating Joel in verse 23. I 226 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:19,340 S3: translated it quite differently than most English Bibles. In the 227 00:12:19,340 --> 00:12:22,300 S3: English Bible it says, Children of Zion, rejoice and be 228 00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:25,340 S3: glad in the Lord your God, because he gives you 229 00:12:25,340 --> 00:12:28,340 S3: the autumn rain for your vindication. But in Hebrew it 230 00:12:28,340 --> 00:12:31,860 S3: doesn't say that at all. It says, rejoice because he 231 00:12:31,860 --> 00:12:36,980 S3: gives you the teacher for righteousness. That's what it says. 232 00:12:37,179 --> 00:12:41,100 S3: And it's the phrase that the Qumran Dead Sea Scroll community, 233 00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:43,540 S3: they took that for their leader, the teacher of righteousness. 234 00:12:43,540 --> 00:12:45,890 S3: But it actually is a promise that the Messiah will 235 00:12:45,890 --> 00:12:49,329 S3: come and he would be our teacher for righteousness. Our 236 00:12:49,370 --> 00:12:53,090 S3: morality is what the Hebrew says. And I was so 237 00:12:53,090 --> 00:12:55,890 S3: surprised when I saw that. And there's actually an article 238 00:12:55,890 --> 00:12:59,490 S3: in the handbook showing how this is a great messianic prophecy. 239 00:12:59,530 --> 00:13:01,250 S1: To my friend who says, well, that's nice, but I 240 00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:03,290 S1: think you're reading too much into it. What do you say? 241 00:13:03,530 --> 00:13:06,370 S3: Ah, I'm reading it in the Hebrew. Not too much 242 00:13:06,410 --> 00:13:09,210 S3: into it. I'm reading it in the initial uh, with 243 00:13:09,210 --> 00:13:12,250 S3: the text is in the original language. And, uh, that's 244 00:13:12,250 --> 00:13:14,329 S3: so important not to read into it, but to read 245 00:13:14,330 --> 00:13:16,290 S3: it for what the text actually says. 246 00:13:16,290 --> 00:13:19,450 S1: Michael Redlich is professor of Jewish studies at Moody Bible Institute, 247 00:13:19,450 --> 00:13:24,130 S1: joining us today on the land and the book since 248 00:13:24,130 --> 00:13:26,570 S1: pastoring a church during his final two years as a 249 00:13:26,570 --> 00:13:31,210 S1: student at Gordon-conwell Theological Seminary, Doctor Woodrow Kroll's life has 250 00:13:31,210 --> 00:13:34,530 S1: been spent either in the classroom or the recording studio. 251 00:13:35,010 --> 00:13:37,370 S1: He served as the chairman of the religion department at 252 00:13:37,370 --> 00:13:41,930 S1: Liberty University, and then president of Davis College for 23 years. 253 00:13:42,290 --> 00:13:45,320 S1: From there, Doctor Crowell served as president and senior Bible 254 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,400 S1: teacher for the International Radio Ministry known as back to 255 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,160 S1: the Bible. Once retired from radio, Doctor Crowell returned to 256 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:56,600 S1: his academic interests, specifically in researching and writing about Roman 257 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,800 S1: Crucifixion and the death of Jesus. He's an expert on 258 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,360 S1: these subjects, and we're glad to have him sharing his 259 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,240 S1: expertise with us today on the land and the book. 260 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:06,760 S1: Welcome back, Doctor Crowell. 261 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,160 S4: John, it is my pleasure. Thank you. 262 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,199 S1: Well, give us an overview of the book that this 263 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,280 S1: material comes from and even the series that we're looking 264 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:14,840 S1: at here. 265 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:21,560 S4: Well, it's a seven volume series on crucifixion, specifically Jesus crucifixion. 266 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,200 S4: And this is volume two. There are, as I say, 267 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:31,080 S4: seven in the series. The first book was a little heavy, 268 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:36,600 S4: if I may say that, uh, more academic, more, uh, specific, 269 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:42,390 S4: really related to historical accounts. Uh, there are probably 30 270 00:14:42,710 --> 00:14:46,270 S4: some people outside the Bible that I quote in the 271 00:14:46,270 --> 00:14:51,590 S4: first volume related to Jesus crucifixion. The second volume, the 272 00:14:51,590 --> 00:14:55,150 S4: one we're talking about today, is a lighter. It's it's 273 00:14:55,150 --> 00:15:00,150 S4: more of a biographical look at all the characters who 274 00:15:00,150 --> 00:15:04,670 S4: feature into the crucifixion of Jesus. And some people were 275 00:15:04,670 --> 00:15:08,150 S4: surprised how many there are. Yes. Characters. 276 00:15:08,190 --> 00:15:10,350 S1: Yeah, I reacted that way as well. Yeah. 277 00:15:10,550 --> 00:15:13,590 S4: Yeah, it's it's funny because, you know, when you get 278 00:15:13,590 --> 00:15:17,430 S4: down to the end of it and you're looking at, uh, well, 279 00:15:17,430 --> 00:15:20,870 S4: there are 27 chapters in this book, each chapter dedicated 280 00:15:20,870 --> 00:15:25,990 S4: to a different person who is part of the crucifixion story. 281 00:15:26,510 --> 00:15:30,590 S1: Well, let's dig into that cast of characters. None more prominent, 282 00:15:30,590 --> 00:15:34,630 S1: of course, than Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed our Lord. 283 00:15:34,790 --> 00:15:36,510 S1: What comes to mind as you think about him? 284 00:15:37,230 --> 00:15:41,660 S4: Uh, the word Iscariot means that he's a man from Kerioth, 285 00:15:42,260 --> 00:15:46,780 S4: which is a city probably in southern Israel, maybe across 286 00:15:46,780 --> 00:15:50,660 S4: the Jordan River into Jordan. But nonetheless, he's not a 287 00:15:50,660 --> 00:15:55,820 S4: Galilean like the others are, and that sets them apart immediately. 288 00:15:56,060 --> 00:16:01,060 S4: He apparently has some history with, uh, groups that are 289 00:16:01,220 --> 00:16:05,180 S4: fighting against the Roman Empire. They see the Romans as 290 00:16:05,220 --> 00:16:09,020 S4: the incursion into the land of the book. And as 291 00:16:09,020 --> 00:16:11,860 S4: a result of that, there were a lot of folks 292 00:16:11,860 --> 00:16:15,340 S4: who took to guerrilla warfare. And and I think Judas 293 00:16:15,340 --> 00:16:18,660 S4: was probably one of them. The thing that stands out 294 00:16:18,660 --> 00:16:24,340 S4: about this man is, at some point, Judas understood completely 295 00:16:24,340 --> 00:16:27,860 S4: what Jesus was doing. And Jesus sends his disciples out 296 00:16:27,860 --> 00:16:32,300 S4: on their first mission journey without him. Judas was one 297 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:34,580 S4: of those, and I would love to have heard his 298 00:16:34,580 --> 00:16:37,780 S4: report on the people coming to know the Lord through 299 00:16:37,780 --> 00:16:41,730 S4: his preaching. Reaching. But again, at some point things turn 300 00:16:41,770 --> 00:16:46,330 S4: dark in this life and he's disgruntled with Jesus. Maybe 301 00:16:46,330 --> 00:16:50,210 S4: the whole kingdom thing isn't moving fast enough. We don't 302 00:16:50,210 --> 00:16:52,970 S4: know the reason, but what we know is the result. 303 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:56,650 S4: And the result is he went to the Sanhedrin and 304 00:16:56,650 --> 00:17:00,050 S4: he said, I can deliver Jesus to you. And in fact, 305 00:17:00,050 --> 00:17:02,930 S4: he did. And the end result for him was he 306 00:17:02,930 --> 00:17:06,850 S4: was so ashamed he went out and hung himself. 307 00:17:07,570 --> 00:17:10,410 S1: It seems to me that there's a terrible lesson here 308 00:17:10,690 --> 00:17:14,290 S1: about potential that can go bad in the life of Judas. 309 00:17:14,530 --> 00:17:18,090 S4: Yeah, that's right. And that's that's true in all of us, 310 00:17:18,090 --> 00:17:21,409 S4: I guess. Uh, you know, there are people in our 311 00:17:21,410 --> 00:17:26,370 S4: field of endeavor, uh, evangelists on TV or pastors in 312 00:17:26,369 --> 00:17:30,010 S4: their churches who have a great record up until they 313 00:17:30,010 --> 00:17:33,570 S4: do something that destroys that record. And that's pretty much 314 00:17:33,570 --> 00:17:35,450 S4: the way it worked for Judas. 315 00:17:35,609 --> 00:17:39,320 S1: Let's talk about Peter. You've called him the disappointing disciple. 316 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:43,560 S1: That's an interesting label. Let's let's dig into his life 317 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:44,240 S1: for a moment. 318 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:48,800 S4: Well, Peter is a great guy. He's, uh. He's impetuous. 319 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:53,040 S4: He loves Jesus to death. I mean, he just. He's 320 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:57,160 S4: the closest disciple to Jesus, apart from John, who was, 321 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,720 S4: you know, the one who leaned on Jesus chest. Peter 322 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,040 S4: was the leader. Without question. He was the man who 323 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,480 S4: rallied the troops. The the 12 disciples. He, uh, as 324 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:13,480 S4: I say, was impetuous. He is the disciple who, when 325 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:17,240 S4: Jesus came walking to the disciples in the boat on 326 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:21,080 S4: the water, Peter said the dumbest thing I've ever heard. 327 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:25,120 S4: When he said, Jesus, is that you? And Jesus said, well, 328 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:29,280 S4: come to me. And Peter said, okay. And he stepped 329 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,800 S4: out of the boat. And of course, he eventually sank 330 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,640 S4: in the water when he lost sight of Jesus. But 331 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,710 S4: he's the only disciple ever to have walked on water. 332 00:18:38,750 --> 00:18:41,470 S4: That's right. As far as I know, beyond Jesus, he's 333 00:18:41,470 --> 00:18:44,470 S4: the only person ever to have walked on water. So 334 00:18:44,470 --> 00:18:46,630 S4: he's a unique character, to be sure. 335 00:18:47,030 --> 00:18:50,350 S1: And yet, there he is, disavowing any connection at all 336 00:18:50,350 --> 00:18:54,149 S1: with Jesus in that fire, disavowing any connection to Jesus 337 00:18:54,150 --> 00:18:56,469 S1: three times before the rooster crows. 338 00:18:56,710 --> 00:19:01,109 S4: Yeah, and that's the disappointing thing about Peter. He's a 339 00:19:01,109 --> 00:19:06,429 S4: great example of God being the God of a second chance. Uh, God, uh, 340 00:19:06,550 --> 00:19:09,590 S4: used Peter in a significant way. And then he had 341 00:19:09,590 --> 00:19:15,590 S4: this terrible delinquency in his discipleship. He actually said, I 342 00:19:15,590 --> 00:19:18,389 S4: don't know, Jesus. And then he brought a curse down 343 00:19:18,390 --> 00:19:21,750 S4: upon himself. You know, it's as if he's saying, God 344 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:24,470 S4: slay me dead if I know this. Yeah. Well, that's 345 00:19:24,470 --> 00:19:28,109 S4: a pretty difficult thing to say, you know? But God 346 00:19:28,109 --> 00:19:32,190 S4: gave him a second chance. He restored Peter, showing his 347 00:19:32,190 --> 00:19:35,290 S4: love to Peter and Peter's love to the Lord. and 348 00:19:35,290 --> 00:19:40,689 S4: as a result, Peter becomes the principal preacher of Christianity 349 00:19:40,690 --> 00:19:43,770 S4: in the Book of Acts in the New Testament. So he's, 350 00:19:43,810 --> 00:19:47,850 S4: as I say, he's a disappointing disciple, but he shows 351 00:19:47,850 --> 00:19:51,130 S4: us that God can do something with disappointing people. 352 00:19:51,210 --> 00:19:54,410 S1: Bible scholar and respected author Doctor Woodrow Kroll is our 353 00:19:54,410 --> 00:19:56,930 S1: guest today on the land and the book. He has 354 00:19:56,970 --> 00:20:00,050 S1: become a leading expert on the subject of Roman crucifixion. 355 00:20:00,050 --> 00:20:02,690 S1: Let's go to a lesser known character, anise. You call 356 00:20:02,690 --> 00:20:06,330 S1: him the godfather of Israel? I'm curious. Elaborate here. 357 00:20:06,770 --> 00:20:10,970 S4: Yeah. He was at one point the head of the Sanhedrin. 358 00:20:10,970 --> 00:20:14,050 S4: He was the high priest in Israel. Uh, he was 359 00:20:14,050 --> 00:20:20,610 S4: deposed from that position, but he still maintains significant influence. Uh, 360 00:20:20,609 --> 00:20:24,770 S4: his sons all became high priests at some point, you know, 361 00:20:24,810 --> 00:20:29,330 S4: talk about, uh, family ties. And Caiaphas, who is the 362 00:20:29,369 --> 00:20:33,090 S4: most famous of the high priests. Caiaphas was his son 363 00:20:33,090 --> 00:20:37,479 S4: in law. So while Caiaphas was the man holding court 364 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:43,120 S4: for Jesus death and his crucifixion, ultimately it is Annas 365 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:47,760 S4: who is the power behind the throne. He holds a 366 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:52,720 S4: great deal of power over the judicial system of worship 367 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,880 S4: in the Sanhedrin and in the temple. He is, as 368 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,560 S4: I say, he's the godfather of Israel. He's the one 369 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:03,320 S4: who makes sure everything goes the way it's supposed to go. 370 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,880 S4: According to him, make sure the money flows to his 371 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:11,200 S4: family and not someplace else. And he was just a 372 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:16,960 S4: character who is very much like Don Corleone. And. And 373 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:19,280 S4: that's why I call him the godfather of Israel. 374 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,439 S1: Pontius Pilate is certainly a puzzling figure in so many ways. 375 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:26,880 S1: I mean, he could have gone all the way, the 376 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,320 S1: right way, but he went all the way. The wrong way. 377 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,440 S1: You call him the Roman prefect, of course. And what 378 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,070 S1: are some insights in his life that maybe we've overlooked? 379 00:21:36,190 --> 00:21:40,109 S4: Well, you're right, there was a crisis in pilot's life 380 00:21:40,510 --> 00:21:44,590 S4: that is only recorded in the Gospels. And the crisis 381 00:21:44,670 --> 00:21:47,670 S4: in his life is what do I do with Jesus? 382 00:21:47,710 --> 00:21:50,429 S4: You know, that's why he asks the crowd. What do 383 00:21:50,430 --> 00:21:53,870 S4: you want me to do with Jesus? You have selected Barabbas. 384 00:21:54,310 --> 00:21:57,270 S4: What am I supposed to do with Jesus? And that's 385 00:21:57,270 --> 00:22:00,630 S4: the crisis point in his life. His wife had already 386 00:22:00,630 --> 00:22:04,550 S4: warned him about, uh, you know this man Jesus don't 387 00:22:04,550 --> 00:22:06,910 S4: have anything to do with him. He's a righteous man. 388 00:22:07,510 --> 00:22:12,150 S4: Pilate had all the evidence he needed, and there was none, really, 389 00:22:12,150 --> 00:22:15,550 S4: to convict Jesus. And he knew that, uh, there's no 390 00:22:15,550 --> 00:22:18,670 S4: way in a Roman court Jesus would have had any 391 00:22:18,670 --> 00:22:22,670 S4: sentence other than to be acquitted. But Pilate at that 392 00:22:22,670 --> 00:22:26,750 S4: point caved to the crowd. The crowd was stirred up 393 00:22:26,750 --> 00:22:31,460 S4: by the Sanhedrin and by Caiaphas, the high priest. They 394 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:36,260 S4: wanted Jesus dead, but they couldn't crucify him because the 395 00:22:36,260 --> 00:22:40,820 S4: law forbade the Jewish people to crucify. Only the Romans 396 00:22:40,820 --> 00:22:43,900 S4: could do that while the Romans were occupying the country, 397 00:22:44,140 --> 00:22:47,740 S4: and as a result, they had to get Pilate somehow 398 00:22:48,060 --> 00:22:52,300 S4: to say Jesus is worthy of crucifixion and then give 399 00:22:52,300 --> 00:22:55,460 S4: the sentence of crucifixion. It worked out the way the 400 00:22:55,460 --> 00:23:00,300 S4: Jews wanted, unfortunately. Fortunately for us, though, because this was 401 00:23:00,340 --> 00:23:02,260 S4: God's plan for our salvation. 402 00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:06,459 S1: You've mentioned Pontius Pilate's wife, Claudia Procula. You call her 403 00:23:06,460 --> 00:23:09,820 S1: the concerned wife of Pontius Pilate. She had a dream. 404 00:23:09,820 --> 00:23:11,820 S1: I have two questions about her. Number one, do you 405 00:23:11,820 --> 00:23:15,540 S1: think that dream was in some way divinely inspired? And 406 00:23:15,540 --> 00:23:18,980 S1: number two, why didn't she have more sway in his life? 407 00:23:19,060 --> 00:23:21,899 S1: Was it the period in which they lived? What's your 408 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:22,780 S1: take on that? 409 00:23:22,940 --> 00:23:25,340 S4: Yeah, let me answer the second one first, and then 410 00:23:25,340 --> 00:23:27,700 S4: I'll go to the first one. You have to remind 411 00:23:27,700 --> 00:23:30,770 S4: me what the first one is. Uh, was it because 412 00:23:30,770 --> 00:23:33,650 S4: of the period in which they lived? I think it was, uh, 413 00:23:33,890 --> 00:23:36,810 S4: Pilate had already screwed up a couple of times with 414 00:23:36,810 --> 00:23:41,530 S4: the Roman Empire. He came into the temple bearing the 415 00:23:41,530 --> 00:23:45,210 S4: shields of the Roman army. And that, of course, was 416 00:23:45,250 --> 00:23:49,129 S4: seen as a godless thing in Jewish minds. That was 417 00:23:49,170 --> 00:23:53,330 S4: a very idolatrous. So he was in trouble with Rome already. 418 00:23:53,850 --> 00:23:57,689 S4: He had a very close ally in Rome. And suddenly 419 00:23:57,690 --> 00:24:04,770 S4: this ally was killed because the Emperor Claudius understood that, um, 420 00:24:04,930 --> 00:24:10,369 S4: his ally was undermining his leadership. When that ally was killed, 421 00:24:10,410 --> 00:24:15,170 S4: Sejanus Pilate was on shaky ground. And I think at 422 00:24:15,170 --> 00:24:18,530 S4: this point he felt if he doesn't give in to 423 00:24:18,530 --> 00:24:22,250 S4: the Jewish mob, he's going to be in trouble with 424 00:24:22,250 --> 00:24:25,770 S4: Rome again. They had already pulled the card on him 425 00:24:25,770 --> 00:24:28,490 S4: that said, you're not a friend of Caesar. Well, that's 426 00:24:28,490 --> 00:24:32,320 S4: a death wish right there. So, you know, he's really 427 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,359 S4: in tricky territory. And I think that had a lot 428 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:39,640 S4: to do with his decision to allow Jesus to be crucified. 429 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,399 S1: I know we're we're speculating here. That's all we can do, 430 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,840 S1: but do you think that in any way Claudia's dream 431 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,520 S1: might have been somehow divinely inspired? 432 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:50,959 S4: Yeah, it easily could have been. I mean, when you 433 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,840 S4: have a dream like she had the night she had it. 434 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:58,440 S4: And when things are going on around you, uh, something 435 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,040 S4: has to spur that dream. There has to be a 436 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:06,119 S4: reality that shows up in the unreality of a dream. 437 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,639 S4: It could have come from God. It didn't necessarily have 438 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,960 S4: to because it delivered the message anyway. But there's no reason, 439 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,680 S4: I don't think, not to believe that God could not 440 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:18,080 S4: have inspired that dream. 441 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,720 S1: Well, there are so many, many in this cast of characters, 442 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,640 S1: all at the cross. We have just dipped our toe 443 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,240 S1: in the waters. And the good news is we've got 444 00:25:27,350 --> 00:25:30,550 S1: more space in our schedule. We've just scratched the surface here. 445 00:25:30,590 --> 00:25:32,790 S1: More of these characters we'd like to dig into. Would 446 00:25:32,790 --> 00:25:35,390 S1: it be okay if we did that on next week's broadcast, 447 00:25:35,390 --> 00:25:36,150 S1: Doctor Kroll? 448 00:25:36,430 --> 00:25:37,710 S4: That would be terrific. 449 00:25:37,750 --> 00:25:39,909 S1: All right, we'll look forward to that. And there's more 450 00:25:39,910 --> 00:25:42,510 S1: to come on today's edition of The Land and the book, 451 00:25:42,550 --> 00:25:45,190 S1: beginning with a set of fresh Bible questions and answers. 452 00:25:45,430 --> 00:25:47,990 S1: Looking forward to hearing what you're wondering about as we 453 00:25:48,150 --> 00:25:50,590 S1: pick up that segment. And then in our final segment, 454 00:25:50,630 --> 00:25:53,990 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer's devotional. It's all ahead on today's edition 455 00:25:53,990 --> 00:26:07,630 S1: of The Land and the book. If you are not 456 00:26:07,630 --> 00:26:11,590 S1: a curious person, this segment is not for you. Welcome 457 00:26:11,590 --> 00:26:14,430 S1: back to the land and the book segment three. Curious 458 00:26:14,430 --> 00:26:16,990 S1: about Scripture? Curious about what the Word of God says 459 00:26:17,030 --> 00:26:19,990 S1: and what it means at points when we're confused. Those 460 00:26:19,990 --> 00:26:21,790 S1: are some of the mysteries the layers were about to 461 00:26:21,830 --> 00:26:24,550 S1: pull back with Doctor Gerald Peterman. He serves on the 462 00:26:24,550 --> 00:26:27,340 S1: faculty of Moody Bible Institute. I love this guy. I 463 00:26:27,380 --> 00:26:29,020 S1: love that he loves the word. I love that he 464 00:26:29,020 --> 00:26:31,179 S1: loves to share it with you. And I love the 465 00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:34,380 S1: fact that he's always happy to hear from you via email. 466 00:26:34,380 --> 00:26:36,540 S1: That's how you get your question to us, which airs 467 00:26:36,540 --> 00:26:39,139 S1: on this segment, by the way, at the Land and 468 00:26:39,140 --> 00:26:43,980 S1: the book at the land and the book at Moody's. 469 00:26:44,740 --> 00:26:47,459 S1: Before we dig into our pile of questions today. And 470 00:26:47,460 --> 00:26:50,060 S1: it's a good pile, as always. Did you know that 471 00:26:50,060 --> 00:26:53,500 S1: most Jewish people have never heard the gospel? It's true. 472 00:26:53,540 --> 00:26:56,340 S1: Every week we talk about Israel and the Jewish people, 473 00:26:56,340 --> 00:26:59,580 S1: and it's important to remember that they, like everybody else, 474 00:26:59,619 --> 00:27:02,780 S1: need to hear the good news. Life in Messiah is 475 00:27:02,780 --> 00:27:07,580 S1: a ministry that's existed for over 135 years, still devoted 476 00:27:07,580 --> 00:27:10,660 S1: to sharing the gospel with Jewish people around the world. 477 00:27:10,660 --> 00:27:14,020 S1: And now get this, they're offering moody listeners a very 478 00:27:14,020 --> 00:27:18,620 S1: cool gift. It's the free e-book Reaching Jewish People for Messiah. 479 00:27:18,859 --> 00:27:21,540 S1: I like e-books, they're portable. And I can, you know, 480 00:27:21,580 --> 00:27:23,980 S1: read a little here, read a little there. And this 481 00:27:23,980 --> 00:27:26,330 S1: little e-book book highlights the need for the gospel among 482 00:27:26,330 --> 00:27:29,010 S1: the Jewish people. It will equip you with practical ways 483 00:27:29,010 --> 00:27:31,330 S1: to share the good news with them. To receive this 484 00:27:31,330 --> 00:27:36,170 S1: free e-book, No Strings Attached, visit Life in Messiah. Click 485 00:27:36,170 --> 00:27:39,010 S1: on the Moody Radio logo and sign up today to 486 00:27:39,050 --> 00:27:42,449 S1: get your free copy. Welcome back to the land of 487 00:27:42,450 --> 00:27:43,570 S1: the book, Doctor Peterman. 488 00:27:43,570 --> 00:27:44,730 S5: Oh, it's fun to be here. 489 00:27:44,730 --> 00:27:47,170 S1: And your Bible is open, I see. Yes, sir. Those 490 00:27:47,170 --> 00:27:50,290 S1: pages look, uh, ready to go? Little smoke coming off. 491 00:27:50,290 --> 00:27:53,290 S1: Some of them. Let's dig in with, uh, question one 492 00:27:53,450 --> 00:27:56,970 S1: from Dan. He says as we witness Israel's ongoing conflict 493 00:27:56,970 --> 00:27:59,929 S1: with Hamas, Hezbollah and the like. I believe we're all 494 00:27:59,930 --> 00:28:03,050 S1: familiar with the chant from Israel's enemies from the river 495 00:28:03,050 --> 00:28:06,970 S1: to the sea. Palestine will be free. And if they're honest, 496 00:28:06,970 --> 00:28:09,170 S1: everybody will have to admit that that slogan not only 497 00:28:09,170 --> 00:28:13,730 S1: implies that Israel's enemies should take over the Land of Israel, 498 00:28:14,050 --> 00:28:17,450 S1: but it also implies the desire to annihilate the Jewish people. 499 00:28:17,650 --> 00:28:20,970 S1: Muslims would probably tell you that's Allah's will to annihilate 500 00:28:20,970 --> 00:28:24,070 S1: the Jews. Now, as believers, we would, you know, denounce 501 00:28:24,070 --> 00:28:27,510 S1: that sentiment and would reject it wholeheartedly. And the question 502 00:28:27,510 --> 00:28:29,830 S1: then is, how do we denounce from the river to 503 00:28:29,869 --> 00:28:32,870 S1: the sea, when God Himself, in the Book of Joshua, 504 00:28:33,109 --> 00:28:35,909 S1: commanded Israel to conquer the land west of the Jordan 505 00:28:35,910 --> 00:28:39,070 S1: and to wipe out every man, woman and child? 506 00:28:39,110 --> 00:28:41,830 S5: No, it's a good question. And lots of folks have 507 00:28:41,870 --> 00:28:45,750 S5: agonized over this and thought about this. On the one hand, 508 00:28:46,030 --> 00:28:48,630 S5: God gives the command, go in and take over the land. 509 00:28:48,670 --> 00:28:53,110 S5: Yes he does. He gives this in Joshua. Now, what 510 00:28:53,110 --> 00:28:55,910 S5: happens at the beginning of this book? At the beginning 511 00:28:55,910 --> 00:28:59,030 S5: of this book, we find a Canaanite family that is 512 00:28:59,030 --> 00:29:03,790 S5: rescued from that destruction because Rahab and her family are rescued, 513 00:29:03,790 --> 00:29:07,710 S5: because she heard the news of a God who brought 514 00:29:07,710 --> 00:29:09,950 S5: his people out of Egypt. She heard the news, and 515 00:29:09,950 --> 00:29:13,030 S5: she wanted to be allied with this God. And she 516 00:29:13,030 --> 00:29:17,670 S5: took the risk of hiding those spies. She's risking her life. 517 00:29:18,070 --> 00:29:22,150 S5: And then she confesses that this Lord is her lord. This, 518 00:29:22,260 --> 00:29:25,140 S5: I think, is a paradigm for the whole book. The 519 00:29:25,140 --> 00:29:27,660 S5: rest of the Canaanites do not have this faith, and 520 00:29:27,660 --> 00:29:30,180 S5: so Israel is to drive them out. But Israel is 521 00:29:30,180 --> 00:29:34,780 S5: to welcome anyone who welcomes Israel's God and will take 522 00:29:34,780 --> 00:29:38,900 S5: him on as their God. So is this genocide? Not exactly. 523 00:29:38,980 --> 00:29:42,260 S5: This is actually a kind of evangelism. That is, we're 524 00:29:42,260 --> 00:29:45,220 S5: coming into the land. We're going to push you out, 525 00:29:45,220 --> 00:29:48,340 S5: but we welcome you in. I don't think we talk 526 00:29:48,380 --> 00:29:49,620 S5: about that nearly enough. 527 00:29:50,060 --> 00:29:52,740 S1: Yeah, well, you know, I think your point is kind 528 00:29:52,740 --> 00:29:54,980 S1: of valid here in the sense that this is a 529 00:29:54,980 --> 00:29:57,060 S1: paradigm because toward the end of his life, what is 530 00:29:57,060 --> 00:30:00,260 S1: it that Joshua says choose you this day, whom you 531 00:30:00,260 --> 00:30:02,740 S1: will serve? As for me and my house, we will 532 00:30:02,740 --> 00:30:03,420 S1: serve the Lord. 533 00:30:03,460 --> 00:30:06,459 S5: Right. And another aspect that goes in with this, it's 534 00:30:06,460 --> 00:30:10,300 S5: a little bit different from the question is Israel must 535 00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:14,340 S5: not be in that land surrounded by pagans that are 536 00:30:14,340 --> 00:30:16,900 S5: tempting them to disobey God. As a matter of fact, 537 00:30:16,900 --> 00:30:18,500 S5: this is what happens. You read the rest of your 538 00:30:18,500 --> 00:30:21,170 S5: Old Testament. You find that this is exactly what happens. 539 00:30:21,170 --> 00:30:24,050 S5: They should drive the other nations out so that they 540 00:30:24,050 --> 00:30:26,370 S5: don't have this temptation all around them. 541 00:30:26,650 --> 00:30:28,770 S1: Okay, well, we've got a series of questions we're going 542 00:30:28,810 --> 00:30:31,210 S1: to entertain today that are all based in the book 543 00:30:31,210 --> 00:30:34,290 S1: of First John. So bear with us for this great study. 544 00:30:34,290 --> 00:30:36,930 S1: I think you'll like it. First John chapter two, verse 14. 545 00:30:37,250 --> 00:30:39,450 S1: Somebody wants to know, I have written to you, fathers, 546 00:30:39,450 --> 00:30:42,010 S1: because you know him who is from the beginning. I 547 00:30:42,010 --> 00:30:43,850 S1: have written to you, young men, because you are strong, 548 00:30:43,850 --> 00:30:46,250 S1: and the word of God remains in you, and you 549 00:30:46,250 --> 00:30:49,050 S1: have overcome the evil one. This phrase is at the 550 00:30:49,050 --> 00:30:52,250 S1: center of the question in what sense had these people 551 00:30:52,250 --> 00:30:53,930 S1: overcome the evil one? 552 00:30:53,970 --> 00:30:58,090 S5: Yes. Good, good. We should never think that we have 553 00:30:58,090 --> 00:31:01,930 S5: overcome the evil one by our power. I take it 554 00:31:01,930 --> 00:31:04,530 S5: that fathers are addressed a particular way, and then the 555 00:31:04,530 --> 00:31:07,890 S5: young men are addressed another way. Young men known for 556 00:31:07,890 --> 00:31:11,090 S5: being full of energy, known for being strong. Right. Let 557 00:31:11,090 --> 00:31:13,410 S5: me talk to you, young men, about where your strength 558 00:31:13,410 --> 00:31:17,210 S5: really is. Your real strength is in having overcome the 559 00:31:17,210 --> 00:31:20,920 S5: evil one. How did that happen? The young men did 560 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:24,800 S5: not do it themselves. The Lord Jesus Christ has overcome 561 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,000 S5: the evil one on their behalf. And so, because they 562 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:32,280 S5: trust Christ, they have overcome him as well. So he 563 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:36,520 S5: will not control their final destiny. They beat him, if 564 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:36,960 S5: you will. 565 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:40,400 S1: Let's go to first John two verse 22, which reads, 566 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:43,000 S1: who is the liar except the one who denies that 567 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,680 S1: Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one 568 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:49,560 S1: who denies the father and the son. All right, here's 569 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,280 S1: the question. Does this imply that anyone and everyone who 570 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:56,080 S1: denies Christ is a type of antichrist? I mean, that's 571 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:56,960 S1: serious stuff. 572 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,160 S5: That is very serious stuff, I would say. A type 573 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,640 S5: of Antichrist, but not the Antichrist himself. 574 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:04,800 S1: Right? Not the capital, a right. 575 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,320 S5: That is, we have an enemy out there and the 576 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,520 S5: enemy is a liar. And many times we believe his lies. 577 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:14,440 S5: But that doesn't make us Satan, right? So yes, yes, 578 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:19,470 S5: many people these days are parroting the antichrist's words. 579 00:32:19,510 --> 00:32:22,150 S1: Yea, even though we aren't the antichrist in our unbelief, 580 00:32:22,150 --> 00:32:24,390 S1: that is still really serious stuff. I sure wouldn't want 581 00:32:24,390 --> 00:32:25,350 S1: to be in that number. 582 00:32:25,390 --> 00:32:28,070 S5: Right, right. And I take it part of what's going 583 00:32:28,070 --> 00:32:32,190 S5: on here in first John is some of the people 584 00:32:32,190 --> 00:32:34,950 S5: in the church of First John have abandoned the church. 585 00:32:34,950 --> 00:32:37,709 S5: They've left it. And others who are still in the 586 00:32:37,710 --> 00:32:39,990 S5: church are wondering, are we the good people or are 587 00:32:39,990 --> 00:32:43,070 S5: we the bad people because they have gone? Are we 588 00:32:43,070 --> 00:32:46,190 S5: believing what is true? And so, over and over and 589 00:32:46,190 --> 00:32:49,150 S5: over in the book, he he affirms them in their belief. 590 00:32:49,150 --> 00:32:51,870 S5: He affirms them all sorts of different ways. And here's 591 00:32:51,870 --> 00:32:55,190 S5: one way he affirms them, that they are believing the truth, 592 00:32:55,190 --> 00:32:56,070 S5: not the lie. 593 00:32:56,270 --> 00:32:59,350 S1: You can get your Bible question entered into this conversation 594 00:32:59,510 --> 00:33:02,310 S1: when you email us at The land and the book 595 00:33:02,470 --> 00:33:08,430 S1: at Moody's, the land and the book at Moody's, you know, 596 00:33:08,430 --> 00:33:11,070 S1: you've got a question or two. I mean, you can't 597 00:33:11,070 --> 00:33:14,150 S1: open the Bible and process what you're reading and not 598 00:33:14,150 --> 00:33:17,580 S1: ponder and wonder and eventually ask a question. So we 599 00:33:17,580 --> 00:33:20,700 S1: invite that question again when you email us at The 600 00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:26,100 S1: Land and the book at Moody's. First John chapter three, 601 00:33:26,140 --> 00:33:28,940 S1: verse 12 was at the heart of this next listener question. 602 00:33:29,220 --> 00:33:31,740 S1: The verse reads, do not be like Cain who murdered 603 00:33:31,740 --> 00:33:34,660 S1: his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? 604 00:33:34,660 --> 00:33:39,460 S1: Because his own deeds were evil, but his brothers were righteous. So, Jerry, 605 00:33:39,460 --> 00:33:42,780 S1: is this verse simply saying murder can take place just 606 00:33:42,780 --> 00:33:44,780 S1: because someone else is righteous? 607 00:33:45,380 --> 00:33:48,700 S5: Um, short answer yes, but let's give a longer answer, right? 608 00:33:48,740 --> 00:33:53,420 S5: That is, uh, this is a kind of envy or jealousy. Uh, 609 00:33:53,420 --> 00:33:58,220 S5: this is a kind of comparison, right? Abel brings his offering. 610 00:33:58,300 --> 00:34:02,380 S5: His offering is accepted. Cain brings his. It is not accepted. 611 00:34:02,380 --> 00:34:05,980 S5: This is envy or jealousy. And we all know that 612 00:34:05,980 --> 00:34:10,260 S5: sometimes you let envy or jealousy have have control. Yeah, 613 00:34:10,300 --> 00:34:13,660 S5: it can lead all sorts of terrible directions. And it 614 00:34:13,660 --> 00:34:14,700 S5: does here as well. 615 00:34:15,180 --> 00:34:17,970 S1: First, John 319 is the subject of our next question. 616 00:34:17,969 --> 00:34:20,290 S1: It reads. We will know by this that we are 617 00:34:20,330 --> 00:34:22,370 S1: of the truth, and will set our heart at ease 618 00:34:22,370 --> 00:34:25,089 S1: before him, that if our heart condemns us, that God 619 00:34:25,090 --> 00:34:27,730 S1: is greater than our heart, and he knows all things. 620 00:34:27,810 --> 00:34:30,569 S1: So the question is, if we are followers of Christ, 621 00:34:30,570 --> 00:34:33,330 S1: isn't this a moot point? Romans eight says, there is 622 00:34:33,330 --> 00:34:36,330 S1: therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 623 00:34:36,530 --> 00:34:39,450 S1: Is this merely a restatement of an important truth, or 624 00:34:39,450 --> 00:34:41,290 S1: is there a nuance to this verse that we have 625 00:34:41,290 --> 00:34:42,450 S1: somehow overlooked? 626 00:34:42,489 --> 00:34:45,250 S5: Oh good, good, good. Thanks so much for that. Uh, 627 00:34:45,250 --> 00:34:48,290 S5: these two verses do overlap what we find at the 628 00:34:48,290 --> 00:34:52,130 S5: end of Romans eight and here do overlap. But John 629 00:34:52,130 --> 00:34:57,450 S5: is calling us to apply the promise to ourself, to 630 00:34:57,610 --> 00:35:00,850 S5: know it, to understand it, to make it our own. 631 00:35:01,090 --> 00:35:05,010 S5: Lots of promises in Scripture are stated, which we might 632 00:35:05,010 --> 00:35:08,690 S5: memorize and know, but have we really taken them to ourselves? 633 00:35:08,930 --> 00:35:12,009 S5: Have we really affirmed in our own heart? I am 634 00:35:12,010 --> 00:35:16,990 S5: not condemned. I am free of condemnation. So John is 635 00:35:16,989 --> 00:35:20,270 S5: calling us to do that, not just to recognize that's 636 00:35:20,270 --> 00:35:23,710 S5: in Scripture, but to affirm that in our own heart 637 00:35:23,710 --> 00:35:26,670 S5: and mind we need to do this many times. Does 638 00:35:26,670 --> 00:35:30,270 S5: God love us? Wow. Yes, of course he loves us. 639 00:35:30,270 --> 00:35:35,190 S5: And yet Paul prays for the Ephesians in Ephesians three 640 00:35:35,350 --> 00:35:38,629 S5: that they would know the love of Christ. Well, haven't 641 00:35:38,670 --> 00:35:41,069 S5: they already known it? Yeah, but I think we can 642 00:35:41,070 --> 00:35:44,430 S5: know it more richly, more deeply, depend upon it in 643 00:35:44,430 --> 00:35:46,989 S5: new and fresh ways. I think John is calling us 644 00:35:46,989 --> 00:35:47,510 S5: to that. 645 00:35:48,070 --> 00:35:50,710 S1: First, John five verse 18 is the basis for this 646 00:35:50,710 --> 00:35:53,350 S1: next question. We know that no one who was born 647 00:35:53,390 --> 00:35:56,350 S1: of God sins, but he who was born of God 648 00:35:56,350 --> 00:35:59,030 S1: keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 649 00:35:59,469 --> 00:36:01,270 S1: But you know, if I look at this verse, Jerry, 650 00:36:01,270 --> 00:36:02,549 S1: I got to tell you, I sin all the time. 651 00:36:02,550 --> 00:36:05,230 S1: Just ask my wife, how do I square that up 652 00:36:05,230 --> 00:36:06,190 S1: with this verse? 653 00:36:06,510 --> 00:36:09,910 S5: Well, whole books are written on that topic, so we're 654 00:36:09,910 --> 00:36:13,820 S5: going to try to make this quick. I think John 655 00:36:13,820 --> 00:36:17,300 S5: is not talking about any sin, but a particular sin 656 00:36:17,620 --> 00:36:21,340 S5: throughout the book. There are particular sin is this apostasy 657 00:36:21,380 --> 00:36:23,859 S5: that we mentioned a few moments ago of others who 658 00:36:23,860 --> 00:36:27,180 S5: have left the church, others who have abandoned Christ, others 659 00:36:27,180 --> 00:36:29,620 S5: who have turned their backs on Christ, think something like 660 00:36:29,620 --> 00:36:33,540 S5: Hebrews six. But when we are born again by a spirit, 661 00:36:33,739 --> 00:36:36,819 S5: we trust in him. That truth remains in us and 662 00:36:36,820 --> 00:36:39,660 S5: we should be able to persevere. So by means of 663 00:36:39,700 --> 00:36:43,700 S5: that perseverance, we're not going to abandon our faith in Christ. 664 00:36:43,860 --> 00:36:47,899 S5: So think perseverance and faith, not perfection. 665 00:36:48,580 --> 00:36:50,660 S1: Boy, so much to think about. And it's been fun 666 00:36:50,700 --> 00:36:53,620 S1: anchoring some of our questions today. This next segment we've 667 00:36:53,660 --> 00:36:56,140 S1: got coming up, it's a favorite for many. Charlie takes 668 00:36:56,140 --> 00:36:58,219 S1: us to a passage in Scripture. A place in the 669 00:36:58,219 --> 00:37:00,980 S1: Holy Land, puts them together, and you'll never think about 670 00:37:00,980 --> 00:37:03,900 S1: either the same. That's all coming up right here on 671 00:37:03,940 --> 00:37:19,969 S1: Moody Radio's The Land and the book. Whether it's the 672 00:37:19,969 --> 00:37:22,770 S1: arrival of athletes in a parade, having just won the 673 00:37:22,770 --> 00:37:25,930 S1: Super Bowl, or maybe it's the World Series, there's something 674 00:37:25,930 --> 00:37:29,090 S1: about this assembling of a crowd and and a triumphal 675 00:37:29,090 --> 00:37:31,370 S1: entry that you just never really forget once you've been 676 00:37:31,370 --> 00:37:33,650 S1: part of it, right? Hey, welcome back to the land 677 00:37:33,650 --> 00:37:37,410 S1: and the book. I'm John Gager. Just ahead, Charlie Dyer's devotional. 678 00:37:37,450 --> 00:37:39,969 S1: What's your title? And where are you taking us today, Charlie? 679 00:37:40,210 --> 00:37:42,930 S2: Well, John, it's called the Tearful Triumphal Entry. We're heading 680 00:37:42,969 --> 00:37:45,770 S2: to Luke 19, and it's a parade of sorts, but 681 00:37:45,770 --> 00:37:48,370 S2: one with a very different response than we might imagine. 682 00:37:48,370 --> 00:37:51,090 S1: All right, looking forward to that devotional. First, though, let's 683 00:37:51,090 --> 00:37:54,210 S1: pause for a Holy Land experience a testimony from an 684 00:37:54,210 --> 00:37:56,890 S1: Israel traveler who shares this with you and me right now. 685 00:38:01,170 --> 00:38:04,690 S6: Hi, my name is Janet McDonald from Frankfort, Indiana, and 686 00:38:04,690 --> 00:38:07,970 S6: this is my Holy Land experience. We went with Moody 687 00:38:07,969 --> 00:38:11,839 S6: Bible Institute in 2008 and it so happened that we 688 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:15,799 S6: were there during the Easter season. I remember being on 689 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,959 S6: the Sea of Galilee on Palm Sunday, and I can 690 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:22,200 S6: assure you, never again do we look at Palm Sunday 691 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:24,919 S6: the same. It has totally changed the way that we 692 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:29,279 S6: looked at that time when Jesus went through the trials, 693 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:33,880 S6: the tribulations, seeing the Garden of Gethsemane and the place 694 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:36,600 S6: where he was crucified. And it certainly has never been 695 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:39,719 S6: the same that entire Easter season, having seen it with 696 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:43,120 S6: our own eyes and experienced that ourselves. 697 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:48,319 S1: Well, when most of us think of triumphal entries, we 698 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:52,960 S1: think of happiness. But triumphal entries are not always without tears. Charlie. 699 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:54,400 S1: I'll let you take it away. 700 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:56,640 S2: Ah. Thanks, John. Yeah. For the next two weeks, I'm 701 00:38:56,640 --> 00:39:00,480 S2: actually pausing my series on 11 inscriptions to the Bible 702 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:02,560 S2: to focus on the events that we often refer to 703 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:05,800 S2: as Holy Week. And this week's message looks at Palm Sunday, 704 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,759 S2: which we celebrate this weekend. But let me start by 705 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:11,469 S2: sharing a truth about my dad. Dad always seemed to 706 00:39:11,510 --> 00:39:14,390 S2: carry a pack of wintergreen lifesavers in his pocket. He 707 00:39:14,390 --> 00:39:17,589 S2: was the self-appointed candy man at our church. When little 708 00:39:17,590 --> 00:39:19,589 S2: kids would walk up and ask for a lifesaver, dad 709 00:39:19,590 --> 00:39:22,069 S2: would first ask them to quote a Bible verse. Well, 710 00:39:22,070 --> 00:39:25,390 S2: John 316 was a constant favorite, but a close second 711 00:39:25,390 --> 00:39:29,549 S2: was John 1135. Jesus wept. The shortest verse in the 712 00:39:29,550 --> 00:39:32,989 S2: English Bible. Two words could get you a life saver. Well, 713 00:39:32,989 --> 00:39:35,470 S2: that verse, as short as it was, gives us great 714 00:39:35,469 --> 00:39:39,630 S2: insight into the character and compassion of Jesus. John MacArthur 715 00:39:39,630 --> 00:39:43,270 S2: captured the incredible depth of meaning found in that tiny phrase, 716 00:39:43,270 --> 00:39:46,069 S2: as he described the word used for weeping. A word 717 00:39:46,070 --> 00:39:49,510 S2: used only in Luke 11, in the New Testament. He said, 718 00:39:49,510 --> 00:39:53,310 S2: in contrast to the loud wailing implied by Claudio, da Cruz, 719 00:39:53,350 --> 00:39:56,989 S2: has the connotation of silently bursting into tears. Unlike the 720 00:39:56,989 --> 00:40:00,950 S2: typical funeral mourners, Jesus's tears were generated both by his 721 00:40:00,950 --> 00:40:03,990 S2: love for Lazarus and by his grief over the deadly 722 00:40:03,989 --> 00:40:07,670 S2: and incessant effects of sin in a fallen world. But 723 00:40:07,670 --> 00:40:10,219 S2: this is not the only time we catch Jesus weeping. 724 00:40:10,219 --> 00:40:12,420 S2: So come with me as we follow Jesus on his 725 00:40:12,420 --> 00:40:16,140 S2: journey over the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. 726 00:40:16,500 --> 00:40:19,580 S2: We're beginning, amazingly enough, at the village of Bethany, where 727 00:40:19,580 --> 00:40:22,379 S2: Jesus wept over the grave of Lazarus just a few 728 00:40:22,420 --> 00:40:25,540 S2: short months earlier. As the crow flies, we're just a 729 00:40:25,540 --> 00:40:28,299 S2: mile and a half from Jerusalem. But before we're done, 730 00:40:28,300 --> 00:40:30,940 S2: we might wish we were crows. The road from Bethany 731 00:40:30,940 --> 00:40:33,299 S2: to the top of the Mount of Olives is very steep. 732 00:40:33,540 --> 00:40:36,339 S2: After just a few hundred yards, our calf muscles are 733 00:40:36,340 --> 00:40:39,700 S2: beginning to tighten up and our breathing is becoming labored. 734 00:40:39,700 --> 00:40:42,020 S2: And it dawns on us that most of those artistic 735 00:40:42,020 --> 00:40:46,300 S2: representations of Jesus got it all wrong. He was no wimp. 736 00:40:46,420 --> 00:40:49,580 S2: We're struggling to keep up as Jesus and his disciples 737 00:40:49,580 --> 00:40:53,419 S2: stride quickly up the road. Suddenly, two disciples pick up 738 00:40:53,420 --> 00:40:56,420 S2: the pace, half walking, half running to the village a 739 00:40:56,460 --> 00:40:59,340 S2: few hundred yards ahead, and we hear the report rippling 740 00:40:59,340 --> 00:41:02,620 S2: back through the crowd. Jesus sent them ahead to the village. 741 00:41:02,620 --> 00:41:04,899 S2: He said they'd find a colt tied there, and he 742 00:41:04,900 --> 00:41:07,490 S2: asked them to untie it and bring it back for him. 743 00:41:07,890 --> 00:41:11,290 S2: You wonder if perhaps Jesus himself is getting tired. But 744 00:41:11,290 --> 00:41:14,089 S2: then you remember the words of the prophet Zechariah and 745 00:41:14,090 --> 00:41:17,489 S2: what he wrote about Israel's Messiah. Rejoice greatly, O daughter 746 00:41:17,489 --> 00:41:21,290 S2: of Zion, shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem, behold, 747 00:41:21,290 --> 00:41:23,569 S2: your king is coming to you. He is just and 748 00:41:23,570 --> 00:41:27,529 S2: endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey, even 749 00:41:27,570 --> 00:41:30,770 S2: on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Jesus knew 750 00:41:30,810 --> 00:41:32,969 S2: a colt would be tied up and waiting, and his 751 00:41:32,969 --> 00:41:35,969 S2: decision to ride into Jerusalem on that colt was not 752 00:41:35,969 --> 00:41:39,330 S2: for his benefit, but for the benefit of those in Jerusalem. 753 00:41:39,530 --> 00:41:42,770 S2: It was a sign that identified him as the Messiah, 754 00:41:42,810 --> 00:41:46,129 S2: the promised King. You pause to catch your breath as 755 00:41:46,130 --> 00:41:48,850 S2: some of the disciples remove their coats and place them 756 00:41:48,850 --> 00:41:51,810 S2: across the back of the colt for a makeshift saddle. 757 00:41:52,130 --> 00:41:55,370 S2: Still other disciples begin throwing their coats across the pathway, 758 00:41:55,530 --> 00:41:59,049 S2: forming a carpeted walkway for this royal procession. As we 759 00:41:59,050 --> 00:42:02,009 S2: get closer to the summit, the crowd swells in size. 760 00:42:02,170 --> 00:42:04,850 S2: Some follow the lead of the disciples throwing their coats 761 00:42:04,850 --> 00:42:08,680 S2: across the road. Other strip palm branches from nearby trees 762 00:42:08,680 --> 00:42:11,640 S2: hoping to blanket the pathway in a carpet of green. 763 00:42:12,040 --> 00:42:14,560 S2: The joyous procession takes on a life of its own 764 00:42:14,560 --> 00:42:16,800 S2: as it begins the descent down the Mount of Olives 765 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,799 S2: toward Jerusalem. You're no longer out of breath, but you 766 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:22,560 S2: still need to pay close attention to the roadway. The 767 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:25,600 S2: palm branches are hiding both rocks and ruts in the road, 768 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:28,120 S2: and you're afraid of twisting an ankle or taking a 769 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:31,919 S2: nasty fall. Meanwhile, the colt seems oblivious to the obstacles 770 00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:34,799 S2: as it picks its way down the hillside, carrying its 771 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:37,880 S2: royal passenger on its back. You quicken your pace to 772 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:40,799 S2: reach Jesus. It's getting more difficult because the crowd has 773 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:45,320 S2: grown into a massive throng. Someone starts quoting Psalm 118, 774 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:48,000 S2: a psalm looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, 775 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,399 S2: and soon the whole throng seems to be shouting it 776 00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:53,160 S2: in unison. Blessed is the King who comes in the 777 00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:55,879 S2: name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in 778 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,359 S2: the highest. You push your way forward. Finally catching up 779 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:02,080 S2: to Jesus, you turn to look into his face, to 780 00:43:02,120 --> 00:43:04,620 S2: make eye contact, to connect with him in a way 781 00:43:04,620 --> 00:43:07,620 S2: that allows you to share in this incredible time of 782 00:43:07,620 --> 00:43:11,300 S2: celebration and triumph, by seeing it all through his eyes 783 00:43:11,580 --> 00:43:16,580 S2: and you discover Jesus is sobbing uncontrollably. Luke describes the 784 00:43:16,580 --> 00:43:19,580 S2: scene this way when he approached Jerusalem, he saw the 785 00:43:19,580 --> 00:43:22,580 S2: city and wept over it, saying, if you had known 786 00:43:22,580 --> 00:43:25,420 S2: this day, even you, the things which make for peace. 787 00:43:25,700 --> 00:43:28,980 S2: But now they've been hidden from your eyes. The word 788 00:43:28,980 --> 00:43:31,500 S2: for weeping that Luke chooses is not the one used 789 00:43:31,500 --> 00:43:34,460 S2: to describe Jesus as John 11, the one that pictured 790 00:43:34,460 --> 00:43:37,860 S2: gentle tears flowing down his face. The word used by 791 00:43:37,860 --> 00:43:42,780 S2: Luke describes uncontrollable sobs of sorrow. But why is Jesus 792 00:43:42,820 --> 00:43:47,060 S2: weeping while everyone else is so excited? Jesus is crying 793 00:43:47,060 --> 00:43:49,819 S2: because as God, he knew the hearts of the people 794 00:43:49,980 --> 00:43:52,460 S2: and he knew the future. In just five days, the 795 00:43:52,460 --> 00:43:56,100 S2: same crowd now welcoming him as king would shout to Pilate, 796 00:43:56,260 --> 00:44:00,379 S2: Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar. Jesus could 797 00:44:00,380 --> 00:44:03,370 S2: also see the coming destruction of Of Jerusalem that would 798 00:44:03,370 --> 00:44:06,770 S2: take place because you did not recognize the time of 799 00:44:06,770 --> 00:44:10,650 S2: your visitation. This realization of what you're seeing snaps you 800 00:44:10,650 --> 00:44:14,010 S2: back to reality. You freeze in place as the crowd 801 00:44:14,050 --> 00:44:16,730 S2: surges past on its way down the mountain. The people 802 00:44:16,730 --> 00:44:19,130 S2: are so wrapped up in the emotion of the moment, 803 00:44:19,130 --> 00:44:21,609 S2: they haven't even bothered to look into the eyes of 804 00:44:21,610 --> 00:44:24,930 S2: the one they are supposedly honoring. They're so busy celebrating 805 00:44:24,930 --> 00:44:27,529 S2: the coming of the miracle worker that they fail to 806 00:44:27,530 --> 00:44:31,410 S2: notice his tears and sobs. Matthew tells us that just 807 00:44:31,410 --> 00:44:34,850 S2: two days after this event, Jesus delivered a final lament 808 00:44:34,850 --> 00:44:39,410 S2: over the city. Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Who kills the prophets and 809 00:44:39,410 --> 00:44:41,890 S2: stones those who are sent to her. How often I 810 00:44:41,890 --> 00:44:44,570 S2: wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen 811 00:44:44,570 --> 00:44:48,410 S2: gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, 812 00:44:48,410 --> 00:44:50,969 S2: your house is being left to you desolate. For I 813 00:44:50,969 --> 00:44:53,169 S2: say to you, from now on you will not see 814 00:44:53,210 --> 00:44:56,450 S2: me until you say, blessed is he who comes in 815 00:44:56,450 --> 00:44:59,330 S2: the name of the Lord. It's time for us to 816 00:44:59,370 --> 00:45:01,919 S2: head back home. But what lessons can we take back 817 00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:04,439 S2: with us from this journey with Jesus over the Mount 818 00:45:04,440 --> 00:45:07,759 S2: of Olives? I believe there are at least two. First, 819 00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:10,920 S2: we catch a glimpse of Jesus's humanity and his deity. 820 00:45:11,160 --> 00:45:13,040 S2: As a man, he wept over the death of a 821 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:16,320 S2: friend and the rejection of a city. But as God, 822 00:45:16,320 --> 00:45:19,040 S2: he called that friend back from death to life and 823 00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:21,880 S2: announced to the city what would take place five days 824 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:25,759 S2: and 35 years in the future. Second, we learn that 825 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:29,120 S2: there are two times when Psalm 118, blessed is he 826 00:45:29,160 --> 00:45:31,719 S2: who comes in the name of the Lord is applied 827 00:45:31,719 --> 00:45:35,799 S2: directly to Jesus. One is past and the other is future. 828 00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:38,239 S2: The words were first shouted by the multitudes on the 829 00:45:38,239 --> 00:45:41,560 S2: Mount of Olives on Palm Sunday. Sadly, the events of 830 00:45:41,560 --> 00:45:44,640 S2: the next few days show that the crowd didn't really 831 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:47,040 S2: mean them. But Jesus said, there will come a time 832 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:50,120 S2: when the words of Psalm 118 will be shouted again 833 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:52,680 S2: by the people of Jerusalem. He was referring to his 834 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:55,640 S2: second coming, that time when his feet will again stand 835 00:45:55,680 --> 00:45:57,920 S2: on the Mount of Olives as he comes to rescue 836 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:01,350 S2: and save his chosen people. The first Palm Sunday was 837 00:46:01,350 --> 00:46:04,070 S2: a time of sorrow for Jesus. It launched a series 838 00:46:04,070 --> 00:46:06,710 S2: of events that led to his death on the cross 839 00:46:06,710 --> 00:46:09,390 S2: to pay the penalty for our sin. But there's another 840 00:46:09,390 --> 00:46:12,629 S2: Palm Sunday in the future. A second triumphal entry into 841 00:46:12,630 --> 00:46:16,590 S2: Jerusalem that will happen at his second coming. And this time, 842 00:46:16,590 --> 00:46:19,350 S2: Jesus will not be weeping. Wow. 843 00:46:19,390 --> 00:46:22,190 S1: What a day that will be. His triumphal entry. Then 844 00:46:22,230 --> 00:46:24,589 S1: you're looking forward to it. I sure hope so. Hey, 845 00:46:24,590 --> 00:46:26,430 S1: we'd love to have you visit our website. It's the 846 00:46:26,430 --> 00:46:30,630 S1: land and the books, all kinds of great resources and 847 00:46:30,630 --> 00:46:33,670 S1: links there at the land and the book org. Also, 848 00:46:33,830 --> 00:46:36,190 S1: if you've got a question for our Q&A segment with 849 00:46:36,190 --> 00:46:38,430 S1: Gerald Peterman, why don't you get that off to us 850 00:46:38,430 --> 00:46:42,150 S1: when you write The Land and the book at Moody's? 851 00:46:43,750 --> 00:46:46,469 S1: That'll do it for today's broadcast on behalf of our host, 852 00:46:46,469 --> 00:46:49,910 S1: Charlie Dyer, our producer, Dan Anderson. I'm John Gauger in 853 00:46:49,910 --> 00:46:52,669 S1: the land. And the book is a production of Moody Radio, 854 00:46:52,710 --> 00:46:54,870 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.